Dear MCBC Community Members,

Considering the recent tragedy at in Texas Hill Country due to severe weather and flooding, we wanted to share with our community how we plan to keep everyone on campus safe at Midwest Children’s Burn Camp (MCBC) this year.

MCBC takes place on the campus of Camp Taum Sauk. Many Camp Taum Sauk staff stay for the week of camp and serve as Activity Leaders, kitchen staff, and all-around helpers. Our emergency procedures are Camp Taum Sauk’s emergency procedures, and I have included below a communication that their Assistant Director sent out to their families:

Camp Taum Sauk is located on high ground, well above the river, and we have detailed procedures in place for tornadoes, severe storms, and flash flooding. On the first day of each session, we review emergency procedures with all campers and our staff are trained to assist them in the process. Emergency protocols are posted in every cabin and in many of the communal areas for quick reference.

In the event of severe weather or a tornado:

• The local severe weather siren will sound.
• 10 air horn blasts and a loudspeaker announcement will direct everyone to their shelter location.
• East Village campers return to their concrete cabins and shelter under the bunks.
• West Village campers go to the concrete dining hall and shelter against the wall.
• The leadership team accounts for every camper and communicates when it’s safe to resume activities.

In the event of a flash flood, our procedure is as follows:

• The local flash flood siren will sound
• 10 air horn blasts and a loudspeaker announcement will direct all campers and staff to seek higher ground and meet at the challenge course site due to its location on the hill.
• All campers and staff move to the challenge course, located on higher ground.
• Campers will line up in their cabin groups.
• The leadership team meets with each counselor to ensure that all campers are accounted for.
• The leadership team will make an announcement when it is safe for campers to return to regular programming.

In the event of an evacuation, our procedure is as follows:

• A loudspeaker announcement will direct all campers and staff to meet at the Dining Hall.
• All campers will sit in their cabin group.
• The leadership team accounts for every camper.
• Groups will be escorted to their designated evacuation transportation.
• The camp’s population will be moved to Lesterville Elementary School or Sherwood Forest Camp, depending on conditions.

The text of MCBC’s Emergency Plan can be found on CampDoc (click here to access CampDoc). If you hover over your camper’s name in the top left corner of the screen, a drop-down menu will appear. Select “Emergency Plan” from this drop-down menu for a summary of our emergency plan, including important staff phone numbers, the names and addresses of evacuation locations, and the names and addresses of nearby medical facilities.

Please have these names and numbers saved in your phone prior to the week of camp:

• Madeleine Carson (camp name: Maddog), Interim Camp Director, (314) 399-8516
• Rachel Sanger (camp name: Rocky), Camp Medical Director, (573) 999-2716
• Camp Taum Sauk main office: (573) 637-2489

This is a good time to make sure that the email address and phone number associated with your camper are up to date on CampDoc (click here to access CampDoc). We will communicate any emergency via both text message and email to this contact information. If you are not currently set up with CampDoc, please call us at (314) 939-1550 to let us know and we can help.

We understand that some campers might be apprehensive and might express some anxiety about coming to camp this year. We plan on reviewing helpful responses and steps to addressing this concern with our volunteers the day before campers arrive.

We, along with leadership at Camp Taum Sauk, will be closely monitoring the local weather and river conditions throughout the week. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Yours in Service,

Madeleine (camp name: Maddog) Interim Camp Director
Midwest Children’s Burn Camp
madeleine@brsg.org
C: (314) 399-8516